Over the weekend we reported that Adam McKay had entered negotiations to direct Marvel’s Ant-Man, but no sooner was he in than he was out again. Variety reports that McKay dropped out of his own volition over the weekend.
Talks began in earnest on Friday, but by Saturday the Anchorman helmer has decided to depart. He has since said the reason for the quick in-out is that he loves the comics and was keen on making a Marvel movie, but with numerous other projects in the works, be simply couldn’t devote the time needed for it.
Marvel is apparently desperate to keep the film’s July 2015 release date and so will be trying to fill the void as quickly as possible. It’s been suggested that Rawson Marshall Thurber, known for the likes of Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and We’re the Millers, and Zombieland’s Ruben Fleischer are in contention, but no official talks took place.
Fleischer apparently also rules himself out so that he can spend more time with his wife and newborn baby. Expect more news soon.